Mann announced his resignation on Twitter and said that his "fight against drug mafia and corruption will continue". "I'm resigning as a president of AAP Punjab... But my fight against drug mafia and all kind of corruption in Punjab will continue as an 'Aam Aadmi' (common man) of Punjab," Mann, who represents the Sangrur parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha, tweeted. He was appointed the state party chief in May 2017.

AAP leaders in New Delhi, however, said the move was to shed court cases, in which the party convenor finds himself mired, and hinted that a similar course could be adopted in the defamation case filed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Former Punjab minister Majithia claimed he was grateful that truth had won and Kejriwal had realised his mistake. Since the AAP leader had "tendered his apology", he did not want to pursue the defamation case filed against him, Majithia said. He added that another Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashish Khetan too had submitted his offer of regret.

Drug abuse was a major issue in the high-octane Punjab Assembly elections last year and Kejriwal, who was leading the AAP charge, accused Majithia, then a minister in the state government, of being involved in the narcotics trade.

However, in his apology to Majithia, the Delhi chief minister said he had learnt that his allegations were unfounded. In the letter, Kejriwal said: "In the recent past, I made certain statements and allegations against you regarding your alleged involvement in the drug trade. These statements became a political issue. Now, I've learnt that the allegations are unfounded. Hence, there should be no politics on such issues."

"Because of my allegations made against you at various political rallies, public meetings, TV programmes, print, electronic and social media, you filed a defamation case against us in the Amritsar court. I, hereby, withdraw all my statements and allegations made against you and apologise for the same," the letter read.

However, AAP's Punjab leaders could hardly suppress their anger. The leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly and senior AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira took to Twitter to vent his disagreement. "We're appalled n stunned by the apology of @ArvindKejriwal tendered today, we don't hesitate to admit that we haven't been consulted on this meek surrender by a leader of his stature (sic)," Khaira tweeted.

Another senior AAP leader Kanwar Sandhu also reacted sharply. "Arvind Kejriwal' apology to Bikram Majithia in the defamation case on drugs is a let down to the people, especially the youth of Punjab. We in Punjab have not been taken into the loop. Our fight for Punjab continues," Sandhu tweeted.

After Arvind Kejriwal apologises to Majithia, AAP Punjab chief Bhagwant Mann resignsDescription:AAP leaders in New Delhi said the move was to shed court cases, in which Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal finds himself mired.Times Now